Calexico steps up with impressive win

Exciting three year old Calexico (Lather Up) looks to have a bright future on the basis of his eye catching harness racing win in the Garrards Horse and Hounds Three year old pace at Melton last night.

In a small but select field of youngsters Calexico was given time to settle down by driver Damian Wilson before racing outside the leader Golden Tribe who was going for three wins on end. Forty Love who had just returned from his New South Wales campaign was behind the leader and favourite another former New South Wales pacer My Ultimate Barney was one out and two back.

CALEXICO MAR 15 REPLAY

In these circumstances it seemed that Calexico had everything going against him but he continued to grind away. Although he had a habit of hanging in Calexico reached the lead down the home straight and showing a touch of class drew clear of Golden Tribe and Forty Love at the finish.

This was evidenced by his last quarter of 26.9 seconds and overall mile rate of 1.54.9 given the torrid run that he encountered.

Calexico who is trained by Damian’s wife Laura has now his last five starts and just seems to be getting better.

This was reflected by Damian Wilson.

“That’s just the sort of horse he is” commented Wilson.

“You think you just don’t know what you got with him and when you ask him he just responds and then you ask him again he responds again. He just keeps coming.”

“He sort of just changes gears and you don’t really know how quick he is going but he just does it so natural. He’s got a long way to go that’s why we missed the New South Wales Derby. I thought we got to educate him a bit more before we take the good ones on. Who knows what he can do.”

“We’re half thinking of going to Queensland for the Derby in July. We’ll just play it by ear and see how he comes up out of the run. We’ll freshen him up.”

No doubt harness racing fans will be hoping that Calexico continues to improve his race manners as he is definitely a prospect for the classic races and will add some variety to the current crop of three year olds.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink